Turretin and Bavink - What is Theology?

 Notes on Turretins Volume 1 (Institutio) and Bavinck (Reformed Dogmatics Volume 1)

Turretin on Theology:

Turretin 'meets the opinion' of those who object to the use of the title "Theology" and concludes that while it's not expressly used in what he calls the "Formally and in the abstract" it does occur "Materially in the concrete". He compares the formulation of the use of  "theology" to that of the composition of  "the words “triad,” homoousiou, “original sin" as they have been used by theologians.

In article 4 he interestingly refers to Theology as "our true and saving SCIENCE. 

Aquinas' "Theologia a Deo docetur, Deum docet, et ad Deum ducit" (Theology is taught by God, teaches us about God and leads to him) is adopted by Turretin in article 7 to address the idea that Theology is a 'discourse of God' or 'discourse about God'. He says "These two must be joined together because we cannot speak concerning God without God. 

Article 8, Turretin demonstrate 3 uses of Theology:

1) Broadly : Like when Aristotle calls the First Philosophy Theology. And divides theoretical philosophy into three parts "physical (physikēn), mathematical (mathēmatikēn) and theological (theologikēn)."

2) The second use being used by the fathers to denote the part of Christian science that deals with Christ's Divinity

3) And then finally "according to the true extent of its signification": It refers to “a system or body of doctrine concerning God and divine things revealed by him for his own glory and the salvation of men.”

Turretin on the Object of Theology:

In proving there is a 'Theology' Turretin provides 5 reasons.

1) By consequence of God's nature and goodness, God communicates himself to "rational creature" through the knowledge and love of himself.

2) By nature of our curious humanity that naturally seeks the knowledge of God and divine things.

3) A  teleological argument from Turretin in which God's design points us to worship him and this "cannot be done without theology."

4) By nature of God being the Knowable object and man the Knowing subject; "the two things requisite for the making up of a system".

5) By presupposing the salvation of mankind, Turretin makes theology the supernatural means for reaching "that end" of salvation.

Bavinck on Dogma:

Bavinck's RD.1.1.1 starts by stressing that the use of dogma is restricted to that of doctrine founded on God's word/Divine authority. While still acknowledging it as twofold; that it is one; founded on God's authority and two; proclaimed and ecumenically represented by the church.

(prior to this in part 1, he started on a discourse on the use of loci and Cicero's to Melanchthon's role in that. )

"Dogma", says Bavinck, "implies that the authority it possesses is able to command recognition and

thus to maintain itself" and follows by distinguishing it as quoad se and quoad nos. With it being related to "us", Bavinck says, "it is intended, and has an inherent tendency, to be recognized by us as such." A deduction from what is prior, is the idea that the Holy Spirit guides dogmaticians to arrive at scriptural truths; resting on the idea that the church is the ecclesiastical custodian of theological soundness.

-Dogma, is considered that which is developed by the dogmatician, and stands in contrast to the "Word of God" itself.  "A religion without dogma, however vague and general it may be, without, say, faith in a divine power, does not exist, and a nondogmatic Christianity, in the strict sense of the word, is an illusion and devoid of meaning" (ibid)